Lots of questions surround Bulldogs

2:24 AM,
Mar. 7, 2005

Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom hopes quarterback Omarr Connor, No. 14, starts sharpening his skills today when spring practice begins on the Starkville campus. Last year, the former Noxubee County star showed flashes of the ability that made him the state's Mr. Football in 2002.

Written by

Ian R. Rapoport
irapopor@clarionledger.com

Looking back, it's clear that any thoughts of a quick fix were misguided.

No matter what Mississippi State fans wished for coach Sylvester Croom in his first year, he couldn't snap his fingers, whip his players into shape and turn around a program that had gone 8-27 in its previous three seasons. The renovation wasn't completed after the 3-8 campaign in 2004 either, even if it did include a thrilling upset of then-No. 20 Florida.

As the Bulldogs step on the field today to begin a spring practice that will be Croom's second, the team is still a work in progress. ...